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Seventh full-length from Kalmah, who I have not been paying attention to. I recall their early works as essentially Children of Boredom ripoffs with an obsession with swamp imagery for some reason. I never really followed their career, and was not aware they were even still a working band. So here we have their latest album after a nearly three-year absence.

Well, I have to say this is much improved from the imitation they used to engage in. This is still Finnish-styled melodeath, and as such retains a sound that is both signature and kind of dated. Unlike, say, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Kalmah have not gone symphonic, or more deathy, or anything like that. They still play Melodic Death Metal like it was 1999, and I kind of like that. These songs are a bit blastier than I remember Kalmah being, but vocalist Pekka Kokko is no longer screeching away like Alex Laiho and works a deeper, harsher sound that I actually like. If you favor the melodeath sound of the early part of the century, then this will not fail you. A nice retro blast of fun.